National security can be strengthened only through original and real assessment: Army Chief

Kathmandu, March 16: Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) Ashok Raj Sigdel has said that the main objective of national security is to promote the national interest through coordinated employment of mechanisms of State power.     

Inaugurating the High-level National Security Training of the 10th group at the Army Command and Staff College, Shivapuri today, he said it was very important to be aware of the latest concepts of security for the purpose.     

"The concept of national security is being revised and refined over time and a multi-dimensional security environment is being developed. For this, there is a need for a common thinking among all stakeholders on the basis, scope, practice and content of national security,” the Army Chief said.     

Stating that the security concept covers the overall human and environmental security concerns including political, economic and social aspects, he opined that free, fair debate, research and analysis held during the high-level training could be fruitful for formulating security and defence policies suitable to the country.     

He stated how to implement the concept of security according to the situation of the country is a very important aspect and that the features of Nepal's security dimension are unique and special in nature.     

"Our weaknesses, prospects and challenges need to be analysed considering our geography, economy, population, resources, etc. You have to stand on your original and real ground and evaluate it. Only then can the national security be made effective, ” the Army Chief emphasized on the occasion.     

Expressing confidence that areas of common concept development, mutual cooperation and coordination would be identified among the participants, Chief of Army Staff Sigdel said that policy formulation, decision-making and implementation related to security by various agencies would be facilitated.     

Secretary at the Ministry of Defence Rameshwor Dangal said protection and promotion of national security, national interest and national welfare was the first and primary responsibility of every country.     

He opined that security was intertwined with the country's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity and that good governance and development were prerequisites for the same.     

Stating that security itself is a dynamic, multi-dimensional, inter-related and multi-agency issue, he stressed the need for continuous dialogue, coordination and collaboration among the concerned bodies of the state for a strong national security.     

Manoj Thapa, acting commandant of the college, said that experiences would be exchanged focusing on internal and external security challenges in the context of strengthening national security and the need for coordination and collaboration among the organs of the state to address them and strengthen the overall national security system.     

The Ministry of Defence and the Nepali Army have been jointly organizing the high-level national security training since 2072 BS and so far 222 people have completed it. The training will run for two weeks.     

More than 10 first-class officials of the Government of Nepal, security personnel, Nepal Rastra Bank, Tribhuvan University and media persons including Rastriya Samachar Samiti (RSS) are participating in the 10th group.(RSS)